Receptacle



June 6, 1939. H, D, MaCDONA D 2,161,715

RECEPTAGLE Filed Dec. 15, 1937 B ?2 I 24 five/d2 Jonelai,

Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE Application December 15, 1937, Serial No. 179.984;

12 Claims.

The receptacle of the present invention is ornamented and attractive in appearance and for use in both its open and closed condition. One face of it may include a plate made of material pervious to light in whole or in part. With this may be associated a device which underlies the pervious plate and which has a reflecting surface to cause light striking and passing through the ornamented pervious plate to be reflected outward through the plate. Preferably the reflecting plate will be arranged so that it may be removed from the ornamental plate in the open position so that when the device is open light may pass through the ornamented plate which may be plainly visible. The light passing through the ornamented plate may increase the brilliancy and effectiveness of the ornamentation.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated a preferred form of the invention as applied to a compact. Figure l is a plan view showing the ornamented element. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the device in closed position and Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the device in full open position.

The receptacle consists of two members Ill and H hinged together at 12 and provided with a fastening device 3 for holding them closed. The member I l which may be referred to as the bottom of the compact is illustrated as provided with receptacles l4 .and I5 for holding cosmetics or the like. The other member ii! of the receptacle consists of a frame It in which is held an ornamented plate ll. As illustrated the ornamented plate I! consists of a sheet 38 of Celluloid or other suitable material which may be transparent or translucent. The term pervious to light will be employed herein as including both translucent and transparent materials. The sheet 18 may have sunken into its top or bottom surface or both metal plates l9. Preferably the plates IE will be perforated or provided with apertures suitably arranged to form a desired ornament. The Celluloid plate l8 may be colored throughout its surface or it may be partially colored. It may be of .a single color or different parts of it may be of different colors so that the contrasting or variation of color may combine with the plate or plates I!) to produce a desired ornamental effect. The effect thus produced may be somewhat similar to that produced by painted or stained leaded glass windows in churches.

A bezel 20 may be held in the member l0 by insertion under the inwardly projecting hinge l2 at one end. A lip- 2| at the other end of the member I6 may overlie and hold in place the bezel 20. A spring hinge 22 is illustrated on the bezel at its side opposite the hinge l3. Carried by the spring hinge 22 is a mirror 23 or other it polished reflecting surface. For this purpose a polished piece of stainless steel is suitable and desirable. Preferably the plate 23 is large enough to cover the entire area of the bezel 20 and in normal closed position the plate 23 underlies the plate I"! so that when the receptacle is closed some of the light striking the plate I! passes through it and on reaching the reflecting surface of the plate 23 is reflected back through the plate I? thus increasing and enhancing the ornamental effect. In general this may give to the plate I! the appearance and effect of a jewelled plate, the various portions of the plate I 1 being colored to simulate jewels or other ornamental eflects. Between the plate 23 and the plate It there may be kept a cosmetic pad 24. This is not essential but may be a convenience. The pad 24 when present is preferably much smaller in area than the plate 23 so that the presence of the pad will not eliminate entirely the reflection of the plate 23. The plate 23 is carried by the spring hinge 22 in such a way that the plate is biased to extend outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3 and preferably no catch is provided to hold the plate 23 in its inward position indicated in Fig. 2. When the device is to be closed the plate 23 may be turned manually and held in its closed position while the receptacle is closed. Release of the catch l3 thus causes the receptacle to open on the hinge !2 which may also be a spring hinge biased to force the receptacle to open position. As the receptacle opens the member H] assumes more or less the position indicated in Fig. 3 and the plate 23 goes to its full extended position as indicated in Fig. 3. In this position for normal use the compact may be held in the hand and normally will be held with the back of the reflecting plate 23 toward the light. In this position the light will stream through the plate 51 and tend to illuminate and increase the brilliance and attractiveness of the plate ll. Thus there is produced an economical, convenient compact which may be small and thin and at the same time is ornamental, attractive and pleasant to use in the open position as well as in the closed position.

The invention may be embodied in forms and materials other than those indicated for the purpose of illustrating and disclosing the invention.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in the frame and exposed to View on both sides in the open position of the receptacle, a bezel in the frame, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the bezel at the side opposite the first mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate in the closed position so that when the receptacle is open the reflecting member is removed from the ornamental plate and exposes it to view.

2. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in the frame and exposed to view on both sides, a bezel in the frame, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the bezel at the side opposite the first mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate so that when the receptacle is open the reflecting member is removed from the ornamental plate and exposes it to view and allows light to pass through the translucent plate.

3. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in the frame and exposed to View on both sides, a bezel in the frame, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the bezel at the side opposite the first mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate so that when the receptacle is open the reflecting member is removed from the ornamental plate and exposes it to view and allows light to pass through the translucent plate and when the receptacle is closed the reflecting member reflects light through the translucent plate.

4. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate in the frame pervious to light and exposed to view on both sides, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the frame at the side opposite the flrst mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate so that when the receptacle is open the reflecting member is removed from the ornamental plate and exposes it to view.

5. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious tolight in the frame and exposed to view on both sides, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the frame at the side opposite the flrst mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate but biased to remove the reflecting member from the plate.

6. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate in the frame pervious to light and exposed to view on both sides, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the frame at the side opposite the first mentioned hinge, means for holding the receptacle closed with the reflecting member covering the plate and its reflecting surface facing the plate, the spring hinge being biased to remove the reflecting member from the plate in open position.

'7. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member carrying cosmetics, the second member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in. the frame and exposed to view on both sides, a member having a reflecting surface, a spring hinge connecting the reflecting member to the frame at the side opposite the first mentioned hinge with the reflecting side toward the ornamental plate, means for holding the receptacle closed with the reflecting member covering the plate, the spring hinge being biased to remove the reflecting member from the plate.

8. A receptacle comprising two membershinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in the frame and exposed to view on both sides when the receptacle is open, and a member having a reflecting surface lying under the plate to reflect light through the plate when the receptacle is closed, and means to hold the reflecting surface away from the plate when the receptacle is open.

9. Areceptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate pervious to light in the frame and exposed to view on both sides when the receptacle is open, a member having a reflecting surface lying under the plate to reflect light through the plate when the receptacle is closed and means when the receptacle is opened to move the member having a reflecting surface to expose it and the plate to view and allow light to pass through the plate.

10. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, one member consisting of a frame, an ornamental plate in the frame pervious to light and exposed to View on both sides, a bezel in the frame having one edge under the hinge, a lip on the other side of the frame turned in and over the bezel, a spring hinge on the bezel adjacent the lip, a reflecting member carried by the spring hinge and biased to expose the plate, and means for holding the receptacle closed and the reflecting member across the plate.

11. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together at one side, in one member a Celluloid plate into which is embedded a metal reinforcing plate provided with openings forming an ornament and exposed to view on both sides and pervious to light when the receptacle is open, and a member having a reflecting surface lying under the plate to reflect light through the plate when the receptacle is closed, and means to hold the reflecting surface away from the plate when the receptacle is open.

12. A receptacle comprising two members hinged together to open and shut, one member being ornamental and pervious to light, and a hinged member having a reflecting surface facing toward said ornamental member and adapted to be moved adjacent thereto whereby light may be reflected through the ornamental plate.

HOWARD D. MACDONALD. 

